Improvement in compound hose-pipes



M. cnnum.

Compound Hose-Pipes.

N0, 139,550, 7 I Patented J un e3,l 873.

AM Puma :UTHGGRAPHIC ca MY osaamvs's PRocEss) UNITED STATES MARTINORONIN, OFWASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN COMPOUND HOSE-PIPES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 139,550, dated June 3,1873 3 application filed December 11, 1872.

To all whom zt may concern:

Be it known that I, MARTIN CRONIN, of the city of Washington, in theDistrict of Columbia, have invented a certain new and useful CompoundHose-Pipe, of which the following is a specification:

The object of my invention is to provide a means whereby two or morefire-engines or forcing-pumps, while operating at their maximum rate ofspeed, and with their fullest water-throwing capacity, can be made tounite upon one column of water, and throw a single stream of greatervolume, and to a greater height or distance, than either one of theengines orpumps can possibly throw if operated singly. My inventionconsists in constructing the hose-pipe with two or more branches at itsbase or butt, which enter the main pipe at an easy angle, and in givingto the main pipe any required area of opening, preferably but little,

. if any, greater than that of either of the entering-pipes; andl dohereby declare that the following specification, taken in connectionwith the drawings furnished and forming a part of the same, is a clearand true descriptionof pipes embodying my invention.

Figure 1 represents one of my pipes, provided with branches forconnection with the two lines of hose. Fig. 2 represents another of mypipes, provided with a triple branch, and connected with three lines ofdelivery-hose,

and one section of discharge-hose, and a hosepipe of the usual andordinary construction. Fig. 3 represents one of my mammoth compoundhose-pipes mounted on wheels.

A denotes the main barrel of my compound hose-pipe, and B, in eachinstance, denotes one of the several branches to which lines of hose 1are to be attached. The end of each branch is provided with ordinarycoupling-connections, and the end of the main pipe is provided withsimilar connections, which are adapted to receive either the ordinarycoupling, or the usual and ordinary kinds of hose pipes or nozzles. Theinterior surface lines of the branches should merge gradually with theinterior lines of the main pipe, which should, preferably, be taperedgradually from the junction with the branches to within a short distanceof its delivery end, in order to secure a gradual increase in thecompression of the water. The entire interior of the pipe should be madeas smooth as possible, so as to avoid creating undue friction. Each ofthe branches. except one, is provided with screwcaps, accurately fittedthereto, in order that one, two, or more lines of hose may be connectedand used when other branches are not required. a

The special uses and operation of my improved hose-pipe are obvious; as,for instance, let us assume that at a fire, two engines of a certainequal capacity are in service, and an emergency arises requiring thedischargeof a stream of greater volume, whichis to be delivered at ahigher point than either engine, singly, can possibly discharge orreach. [The lines of hose from both engines, in eachcase, are to beunited to the compound hose-pipe, and without undue strain of eitherengine, or of either of the two lines of hose, the extraordinary resultis attained; andtheu, should the crisis be passed. the hose may bedetached from the compoundpjpe, and the ordinary hose-pipes may beemployed. Should it be requisite, at any time, to employ the compoundstream from the interior of abuilding, or from a ladder, or otherelevated position, a section or more of strong hose will be connectedwith the compound hose-pipe, and provided with the ordinary nozzle..-When fires occur at a great distance from the immediate watersource,long lines of hose are necessitated, reudering it quite impossible todeliver water at the fire with effective force. Whenever, with a longline of hose, any extraordinary effort is attempted, it is not unusualfor one or more breaks or ruptures to occur, necessitating change andoccasioniug loss of time, when every second may be'of great value. Everyfire-department having new hose supplied only as fast as old sectionsprove worthless, will always have some hose which cannot be relied upon,even for ordinary service, and, at the same time, will have some whichcan safely withstand any practical test. When extraordinary effort is tobe made at a great distance from the engines, one for more long lines ofhose will he laid from each engine to a point adjacent to the scene ofaction, and then merged into a single line of hose, of superior qualityand unusual capacity to resist pressure,

thence to the delivery. When weak hose is not to be depended upon inlong lines, even for ordinary working, two separate lines can be laidfrom the same engine and merged into one, as already described, adjacentto the point of delivery. There will be, of course, more or less backpressure, resulting from uniting the two streams into one; but it is notsufficient to practically effect the desirable results, or depreciatetheir value.

Six engines, or even more, may be arranged to operate in unison for thethrowing ot' a mammoth stream to a great height, by, for instance,uniting every two engines to a compound pipe, and then uniting the threepipes by separate lengths of stronger hose to another triple-branchcompound pipe provided with a line of hose of still greater strength,having a delivery-phie and nozzle.

When a large volume of water is being discharged through a mammothhose-pipe, it will be practically impossible to manipulate it by theusual means. I have, therefore, devised a carriage for supportingmammoth pipes. which is illustrated in Fi 3. An axle with wheels, andacarriage corresponding generally with the light artillery-carriage, isprovided with a universal-jointed trunnion, on which the deliver -pipeis mounted. At the base of the limber a branch pipe is permanentlymounted, with its branches opening to the rear, for connection withhose. The forward end of the branch pipeis connected, by acurved sectionof very flexible and very strong hose, to the base of the delivery ornozzle pipe. The delivery-pipe, on its double trunnion and verticalpivot, can readily be made to sweep within the desired range, which needseldom, if ever, be greater than, say, forty-five degrees.

In order to give the hoseman at the pipe complete control of thedischarge of the water, the hose-pipe should, preterably, be providedwith the long-ported Allen valve, and be used in connection with Allensrelief-valve, for relieving the engines and hose, or cutting off thecurrent.

I am aware that there is, broadly, no novelty in a branch pipe; but thebranching of pipes as heretofore practiced, occurs most generally in thedirection of delivery. Whenever two or more supply-pipes of a givencapacity have been heretofore merged into one, thelatter has usually, ifnot always, had a capacity equal to or greater than the combinedcapacity of those that enter it. On the contrary, when a large pipe isbranched into several, it seldom if ever occurs that either of theseveral branches has a capacity equal to the main pipe. Should,perchance, a single conductingpipe, ot'a capacity no greater than eachof two or more of the pipes which enter it, be found to have existedheretofore, it would possess only an accidental resemblance to my own,as I am not aware that, previous to my invention, a series ofconducting-pipes have ever been merged into one. whereby greater forceand increased projecting power could be attained, as herein described. Idesire, however, to distinctly disclaim the broad principleinvolved-that is to say, the branching of pipesand confine myself to thecompound hose-pipe described, which embodies the essential requisitesand points in..UOllSl I11Ct-lOn whereby it may be practically applied tofiredepartment apparatus, and to analogous uses.

Having thus described myinveution, I claim as new and desire to besecured to me by Letters Patent- The compound branch hose-pipe, composedof the main delivery-pipe A, and two or more entering-branches, B,provided with connections, substantially as described, whereby two ormore streams of water, through separate lines of hose, may be combinedin one, and

delivered with increased volume and force, as

and for the purposes specified.

MARTIN GRONIN.

Witnesses:

Geo. W. CUSHING, J r., GEO. F. STENZ.

